Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 — February marks American Heart Month, a time when people are encouraged to take charge of their health and enact a heart-healthy lifestyle to help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. And while several factors can increase a person’s risk for developing heart disease, Kentuckians in particular are vulnerable because of our high smoking rates, which are among the highest in the nation.

KentuckyOne Health encourages regular screenings to help detect heart disease, as well as lung cancer, early-on, because we know early detection goes a long way to enhancing treatment. While Kentuckians can find out about screening opportunities at all of our hospitals around the Commonwealth, we’d much rather see fewer cases of heart disease or lung cancer in the first place. We need to work together to reduce the unacceptable number of deaths across the state attributed to smoking.

While some Kentuckians have been able to quit smoking—sometimes on their own, sometimes with the help of managed smoking cessation programs—for others, the addiction and the habit are too difficult to break, despite the desire to quit. We need to explore new ways to help people quit or even not start smoking in the first place.

By raising Kentucky’s cigarette tax by at least $1 per pack, we can help reduce the rate of smoking and that will save lives. Within one year of quitting smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease decreases by half. In just 12 weeks, a person’s circulation and lung function improves.

The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow needs our help to convince lawmakers that enough is enough, and that we have watched too many friends and family members die as a result of smoking, and heart disease or lung cancer connected to smoking.

The Coalition is a diverse group of health care professionals, community and business organizations and advocates that is speaking with one voice and one goal. The organization is seeking an increase in Kentucky’s cigarette tax from just 60 cents a pack to $1.60 per pack, along with other efforts to enact smoke-free ordinances in communities without one, and educating the public and health care providers about cessation resources.

It’s never easy for a lawmaker to enact a tax, but with Kentucky’s current cigarette tax among the lowest in the country, and smoking rates among the highest, something has to give. The health of Kentuckians depends on it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that increasing cigarette prices by just 10 percent has been estimated to reduce overall cigarette consumption by 3 to 5 percent, and that young adults and youth are two to three times more likely to respond to the price increase But it takes at least a $1 excise tax increase to create an effective price increase – tobacco companies can undermine anything less than a $1 tax increase with coupons and other price promotions. If we get the $1/pack increase, however, we can help set the stage for our children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren to lead a healthier life – a life without cigarettes.

Not only will a $1 per pack increase have an impact in deterring smoking, it will also result in reduced health care costs across Kentucky. Fewer smokers would result in a decrease in hospitalizations, as well as medication and outpatient costs.

Currently, smoking-related health care costs exceed $1.9 billion in the Commonwealth. When you take medical care, along with the cost of lost productivity due to that care and the exposure to secondhand smoke, it becomes not just an expensive habit for the smoker, but for everyone.

We at KentuckyOne Health are dedicated to bringing wellness, healing and hope to all, including the underserved. We are proud to stand by the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow, supporting them in urging Kentucky lawmakers to be bold leaders and enact this tax increase. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of Kentuckians. We urge our legislators and Governor to put the health of all Kentuckians first, leading to a healthier and stronger future for us all.

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 — State Rep. Chad McCoy will join other Kentucky attorneys from the Kentucky Justice Association (KJA) in a partnership with area physicians to improve the quality of medical care in impoverished countries through the Supplies Over Seas program.

STATE REP. CHAD MCCOY

Supplies Over Seas (SOS), a Louisville-based non-profit Medical Surplus Recovery Organization (MSRO) that recovers and redistributes surplus medical equipment to those less fortunate.

On Dec. 9, McCoy will help sort and pack supplies and equipment, which will then be shipped overseas to countries in desperate need of medical provisions.

SOS has saved more than 850 tons of medical supplies from the landfill to supply over 100 countries, including the United States, since its inception. The group was founded in 1993 by Dr. Norton Waterman along with members of the Greater Louisville Medical Society (GLMS).

“I am thrilled to be working with KJA and Supplies Over Seas to keep perfectly good medical supplies from going to waste, when there are so many areas around the world struggling to afford even the most basic necessities,” McCoy said. “Its estimated that, every year, more than 6 million children die before their fifth birthday because of inadequate medical care. It is critical we do whatever we can to ensure every child has a chance to grow up.”

McCoy represents the 50th District that takes in the entirety of Nelson County. McCoy serves on the House Health and Family Services Committee.

Monday, Oct. 2, 2017 — The Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association recently presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Nelson County EMS Director Joe Prewitt “for his many contributions to furthering the mission of Emergency Medical Services over several decades of service.”

The award is sponsored by the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association (KAPA) and was presented at the 2017 Kentucky EMS KAPA Conference in Lexington by KAPA President Tom Adams.

The award is the most prestigious accolade given in the Commonwealth to leaders in the EMS Industry.

As a national registered paramedic and chairman of the KAPA Legislative Committee, Prewitt has dedicated his professional life to improving and advancing EMS systems at the local, regional and state level while delivering patient care and providing direction to EMS Agencies.

Prewitt has served as the county’s EMS Director for more than 35 years; he has has provided his expertise in pre-hospital, emergency health and public health care in Nelson County for more than 40 years.

He is a member of the local E-911 Dispatch Board and is considered to be an influential leader within the Emergency Management Systems in Kentucky.

“I’m honored by the recognition, but at the same time, I didn’t get into EMS to get awards,” Prewitt said. “I got involved because I care about people and I liked the red lights and siren, the rest is a bonus as I try to focus on assisting in any way that I can to improve the profession as EMS is taken into the future.”

The KAPA was formed in 1981 to represent licensed Kentucky EMS providers at the local, state and federal levels. The association is solely dedicated to the professional interests of all EMS practitioners while providing legislative representation nationally and within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

KAPA provides the largest EMS conference in state history to bring all groups together with the common goal of presenting EMS providers with the best EMS education and resources in the state.

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017 — The committee that will evaluate health clinic proposals for the Bardstown City Schools hit the ground running at its first meeting Tuesday afternoon at the district’s Central Office.

Superintendent Brent Holsclaw gave the Health Clinic Provider Committee an overview of its mission, and reviewed the 12-page request for proposals that will serve as the guiding framework under which the committee will operate.

The committee, chaired by Bardstown Elementary School principal Paul Bowling, briefly reviewed the timeline for its meetings and then brainstormed topics for possible use in checklists for use during the interviews with possible health clinic providers.

The closing date for health clinic proposals to the district’s Central Office is 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. Applicants who wish to present a proposal are expected to provide a presentation no longer than 45 minutes before the committee.

The committee will conduct its interviews with applicants next week and then decide on a recommendation. The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded yo Central Office, Bowling said. The recommendation will be presented formal to the district board of education at its Tuesday, Sept. 19 regular board meeting for its consideration.

Physicians To Children is the current provider that has operated the district’s in-school clinic since last year.

The request for proposals states that the chosen provider will operate the clinic for the rest of the 2017-18 school year, with automatic one-year extensions for the next two school years.

Holsclaw told the committee that so far, two providers have expressed verbal interest in submitting proposals.

The committee’s meetings — which will begin next week at a time and date to be announced — are open to the public.

Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, 1:30 p.m. — Flaget Memorial Hospital will have a new president at the helm effective Sept. 1. KentuckyOne Health announced Monday that Jennifer Nolan, who serves as president of Our Lady of Peace and Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, will be the president of Flaget.

JENNIFER NOLAN

Nolan will continue to serve as president of Our Lady of Peace while also serving as president of Flaget. Charles Powell, the president of KentuckyOne Health Medical Group, will take over as president at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital.

A KentuckyOne Health press release states that Rick VanCise will remain the vice president of operations at Flaget.

“Jennifer’s mission-driven leadership has been well-demonstrated in her ability to inspire her teams to provide exceptional patient care at both hospitals,” Chuck Neumann, interim KentuckyOne Health president stated through the press release.

Nolan joined KentuckyOne Health in 2001 as president of Our Lady of Peace. Prior to joining KentuckyOne Health, she served 10 years in roles of chief executive officer and chief operating officer for other health systems.

Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 — The City of Bardstown’s mosquito spraying program’s spraying operation is scheduled to take place overnight Wednesday, August 9th. Spraying operations will continue on the schedule below for the rest of the summer until the first frost.

The spraying operations take place from about 9:45 p.m. until daybreak. In the event of rain or high winds, spraying operations will be delayed until the next evening.

During fogging operations, please keep children away from the fogging vehicle, go inside and remain indoors while the fogging vehicle is in your neighborhood. As noted by Mayor Dick Heaton at earlier Bardstown City Council meetings, city employees will not spray in areas where residents have indicated health issues or concerns about the use of the insecticide.

Friday, July 14, 2017 — The City of Bardstown’s mosquito spraying program’s spraying operation is scheduled to take place overnight next Wednesday, July 19th. Spraying operation will continue every three weeks for the rest of the summer until the first frost.

The spraying operations take place from about 9:45 p.m. until daybreak. In the event of rain or high winds, spraying operations will be delayed until the next evening.

During fogging operations, please keep children away from the fogging vehicle, go inside and remain indoors while the fogging vehicle is in your neighborhood. As noted by Mayor Dick Heaton at Tuesday’s Bardstown City Council meeting, city employees will not spray in areas where residents have indicated health issues or concerns.

Customers may experience low or intermittent water pressure, and, therefore, drinking water should be boiled as a precautionary measure. Please follow the procedures provided. This boil water advisory notice will be in effect for approximately 2-3 days. The City will notify customers when the advisory is lifted. If discoloration or air persists, please call City Hall at 502-348-5947.

Monday, May 29, 2017 — Dr. Leslie Cecil, optometrist, was recently named Young Optometrist of the Year at the Kentucky Optometric Association’s 115th Spring Congress held April 27-29, 2017, at the Hyatt Hotel in Lexington.

The award is given annually to a doctor who has been practicing less than seven years and has made significant contributions and commitments to the optometric profession.

The Kentucky Optometric Association’s mission is to promote, advance and insure the viability of the practice of Optometry for the benefit of its members and the citizens of Kentucky.

Dr. Cecil has been practicing optometry at Cecil Family Eyecare, 633 North Third St., in Bardstown since 2014.